2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Everything you need to know

This month the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade returns for its 98th year, ushering in the 2024 holiday season in New York City. The parade, a century-old tradition, takes place on Thursday, November 28 at 8:30 a.m. and promises to be the biggest yet, with 17 character balloons, 22 floats, 15 heritage and novelty balloons, 700 clowns, 11 marching bands, and 10 performance groups, all made possible thanks to 5,000 volunteers.

“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a beloved tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday season for millions of live spectators and viewers across the country,” Will Coss, executive producer of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, said.

“A dedicated team of artisans and production experts at Macy’s Studios work year-round to bring this experience to life. This year’s 98th Macy’s Parade will create awe with unforgettable character balloons, one-of-a-kind floats and world-class entertainment only Macy’s can deliver.”

The route

For the second year in a row, the parade will begin at 8:30 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than in previous years. The 2.5-mile route starts at 77th Street and Central Park West, moving down to Columbus Circle, turning east onto Central Park South, and then parading down 6th Avenue. Upon hitting 34th Street, the parade makes its final turn onto 7th Avenue and ends in front of Macy’s Herald Square.

Best viewing spots

To secure a front-row spot for the festivities, plan to arrive very early (like 6 a.m.!). You can catch the action on Central Park West from West 75th to West 61st Streets and on 6th Avenue from West 59th to West 38th Streets. Spectators should avoid 77th Street, Central Park West between West 59th and West 60th Streets, Columbus Circle, 6th Avenue between West 34th and West 38th Streets, and West 34th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Thanksgiving Eve

As part of a fun Thanksgiving Eve tradition, Macy’s provides a behind-the-scenes look at the inflation of the parade’s giant character balloons the night before the big day. While specifics for the 2024 event have not been released yet, typically visitors can watch the balloons come to life on the Upper West Side from about noon to 6 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Balloons

This year, expect 17 character helium balloons and 15 heritage and novelty balloons. Newcomers include Disney’s Minnie Mouse, Extraordinary Noorah & The Elf on the Shelf by The Lumistella Company, Gabby by Universal Pictures’ Dreamworks Animation, Goku by Toei Animation Inc., Marshall by Nickelodeon, and Spider-Man by Marvel.

Floats

There will be 22 floats, all created with hundreds of set pieces and structural elements. Keep an eye out for new floats featuring Candy Cosmos by Haribo, Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest by Nickelodeon, Magic Meets the Seas by Disney Cruise Line, Wednesday’s Feast by Netflix, Pasta Night by Rao’s Homemade, and the Wonderous World of Wildlife by the Bronx Zoo. Of course, the real star is always Santa Claus, who comes in as part of the parade finale on the largest float of the event (60 feet long and 3.5 stories tall).

Celebrities and entertainers

The 2024 parade entertainers and performers include Bishop Briggs, Kylie Cantrall, Chlöe, Dan + Shay, Dasha, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Coco Jones, Walker Hayes, Ariana Madix, Joey McIntyre, Idina Menzel, Natti Natasha, T-Pain, Rachel Platten, Lea Salonha, The Temptations, The War and Treaty, Alex Warren, and Sebastián Yatra. Social media star and dancer Charli D’Amelio and ballet dancers Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia will also perform. Other big names include Liza Colón-Zayas, Tom Kenny, Ginna Claire Mason, WNBA Champions of the New York Liberty, and the team’s mascot, Ellie the Elephant.

Other performances include the Broadway shows “Death Becomes Her,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” and “The Outsiders,” as well as the iconic Radio City Rockettes.

Performances

Musicians from around the country come together every year to perform during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This year, marching bands include the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band (of Amherst, MA), Avon Marching Black & Gold (of Avon, IN), East Tennessee State University Marching Buccaneers (of Johnson City, TN), and many more, along with the NYPD Marching Band.

Other performance groups include Circus Vazquez, Riverdance, AUM Dance Creations, Black Haus Creative, Kilgore College Rangerettes, and 700 dancers and cheerleaders.

Watch at home

The parade will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., with an encore telecast at 2 p.m. Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker of the Today Show will return as hosts. A Spanish language simulcast will be available on Telemundo, hosted by Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza.

RELATED:

• The 97-year history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade